The grounds where sick people pass

She was half naked... face battered...
Her neck has hematoma... strangled... gang raped!


What kind of sickness had afflicted those who trampled upon your healing soul?
You've brought yourself to this remote land to cure.

And for what?


You ended up in the unwelcoming hands of some ungrateful brats.
They've even made witness to their crime the grounds where sick people pass.


Anger? Disgust? What's there to make you feel better?
What's left to get the rest of your kind to be out there?



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This post is dedicated to the volunteer nurse who was gang raped in South Upi, Maguindanao last September 25, 2010.

Amid dengue scourge

To hear news of ovepricing involving drugstores is no good news because it drags with it the pharmacist's name and reputation.

Such is the case of alleged overpricing in the sale of iv fluids "amid dengue scourge" in Cebu.

According to reports, those involved are pharmacies located outside Cebu City Medical Center and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

I just hope that these reports are not true. Otherwise, those who were involved came short in "[helping] individuals protect themselves against diseases."




(Note: Posted first on the official website of the Philippine Pharmacists Association)

On ethics and self-regulation

Writing about the Medicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA) Philippines' series of round table discussions on the ethical promotion of pharmaceutical products, Dr. Alberto Romualdez in his article, "Finger-pointing on ethics" (Malaya, September 8, 2010), pointed out that "one of [the factors that influence the availability and accessibility of safe and effective medicines for sick Filipinos] is the continued misuse or overuse of ineffective, inappropriate, and often unsafe preparations for treatment of illnesses or enhancement of health."

According to him,"The irrational use of pharmaceutical products is a result of aggressive, often unethical, marketing and promotions practices of a highly competitive industry in a severely imbalanced market."

In his account of what has transpired in those round table discussions, he mentioned that "The health professional discussion group consisted of doctors and pharmacists who had the most extensive dealings with pharmaceutical marketing activities. These groups acknowledged that ethical problems existed but essentially laid blame on drug companies. The groups generally advocated for self-regulation in the form of existing or newly revised codes of ethical behavior. It was acknowledged however that mechanisms for monitoring compliance and imposing sanctions on violations were [woefully] inadequate."

In searching for any existing or newly revised codes of ethical behavior that may serve as basis for self-regulation, it is notable that the Code of Ethics of the Philippine Medical Association specifies the following:

"A physician is encouraged to report to the Philippine Medical Association or the Board of Medicine personal knowledge of any corrupt or dishonest conduct of the members of the profession." (Art. IV, Section 9)

"Generic names shall be used during the course of CME activities. However, after the lectures, the sponsoring entity may promote or indicate their branded products." (Art. IV,Section 15)

"Only gifts of reasonable value that primarily entail benefit to patient care or related to physicians' work may be accepted by a physician from a health product company." (Art. VI, Section 3)

On the other hand, the PPhA's code of ethics is more general in stating that "A pharmacist acts with honesty, integrity and professionalism in relationship with the patients and other health professionals."

Based on the above comparison, I hope that our code of ethics will be as specific as that of the PMA's. I also hope that this finger-pointing on ethics will stop soon. It's time we take the responsibility for our actions.

____________


(Note: Posted also in the official website of the Philippine Pharmaceutical Association.)

Something to look up to

I also consider myself an environmentalist, so I was pleased when I learned that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Earth Day Network, mall owners and supermarket chains signed a memorandum of understanding last September 23 saying that plastic bags will not be provided anymore in malls and supermarkets on Wednesdays "to slowly shift public consciousness into using reusable totes."

Now, that, I think is something to look up to by pharmacy organizations in considering similar action to be implemented in drugstores and pharmacies to help protect the environment and also as part of their social responsibility.

State of hibernation

I guess I have already overdone the decision to lie dormant for a while to the extent that I've already forgotten how to open this account again. (It took a while for me to figure that out.)

Is it "busyness" or the pretense that I can just let the passing of days and years without being affected by the events and happenings in my professional life?

Is it lack of inspiration or the scarcity of topics to write about?

Whatever the reasons... enough is enough to this state of hibernation!

Thanks to those who gave their encouragement and support.